BLMA: Working Together, Making a Difference, Preparing for the Future
By Cathleen Collins (Co-President), Michele Curry (Chair, Water Watch Committee) and Nancy Forhan (Co-PresidentB), Blue Mountain Lake Association, Tuesday, August 20, 2024
Editor's note: This is the second in a series of guest blogs by the lake associations for Raquette Lake, Long Lake and Blue Mountain Lake. This series is part of the Headwaters Campaign, a joint effort of the lake associations, the Adirondack Council and the Northern Forest Canoe Trail.
For more than 50 years, volunteers have gathered as members of the Blue Mountain Lake Association (BMLA) to support their scenic hamlet nestled in the heart of the Adirondack Park. Blue Mountain refers to a mountain, a lake and the town itself. The lake is connected via channels to Eagle and Utowana Lakes, called The Eckford Chain. BMLA is charged with enhancing the economic, physical and cultural well-being of Blue Mountain Lake, while also protecting its lakes and natural surroundings.
Known for its rustic beauty, Blue Mountain Lake is a popular destination for swimming, boating, paddling and fishing. Those who hike Castle Rock or summit Blue Mountain are rewarded with stunning views of the Eckford Chain and surrounding forest preserve lands. Residents and visitors alike enjoy picnics at the public beach, paddling canoes and kayaks, diving off Rock Island’s ledge or spending a night under the stars on forested island campgrounds. The town’s tennis courts and playground provide additional recreation for the young and old.
The hamlet of Blue Mountain Lake supports a robust business community that includes historic lodges, cottage rentals, and inns, attracting thousands of visitors each year. There is an active boat livery, a bustling diner, a craft-brew pub, a design store/cafe and a busy corner convenience station. There are several houses of worship, including the Church of the Transfiguration, Saint Paul’s Catholic Church, and the UMC of Blue Mountain Lake. The town is enriched by the Adirondack Lakes Center for the Arts, which enlivens our town with music, theater and the visual arts; The Adirondack Experience, which brings the history of the Adirondacks to life for visitors from around the globe; the Blue Mountain Center, which welcomes artists, activists, organizers, and cultural workers throughout the year; and, Syracuse University’s Minnowbrook Conference Center.
From the start, BMLA has evolved to meet the ever-changing needs of the community. Serving a small hamlet of 147-year-round residents, with upwards of 1,000 seasonal residents, BMLA has undertaken projects big and small. To accomplish these goals, BMLA relies on a dedicated group of volunteers who make the betterment of Blue Mountain Lake a priority.
In recent years, BMLA has actively responded to the needs of the community by working with the Volunteer Fire & EMS Department to raise the needed funds to purchase a new ambulance; raising $150,000 to combat Variable Leaf Milfoil in Utowana Lake and securing a NY State DEC Grant of $60,000 to continue these efforts through 2026; building a new public beach pavilion, with the design and construction provided by local residents who volunteered their time to get it done; installing much-need lighting for the public-beach restrooms; securing and managing a grant to help offset the cost to families for septic system inspections and cleaning; collaborating with The Adirondack Experience in designing and installing new gateway signs entering and leaving town; providing a sun shelter on the community playground; refurbishing the town’s vintage phone booth after it was decommissioned; and providing new bench seating across from the post office.
The BMLA also provides philanthropic support to local non-profit organizations. Recent beneficiaries include the Adirondack Foundation’s Special and Urgent Needs (SUN) Fund (which in 2023 supported local families and businesses affected by the Central Adirondack flooding disaster); the Indian Lake School District; the Lake Steward program; The Nature Conservancy; Community Action (the local food bank); The Adirondack Experience; and, the Adirondack Lakes Center for the Arts.
Numerous committees of BLMA meet regularly to manage short- and long-term goals. Their work is overseen by an active all-volunteer Board that meets regularly throughout the year:
- The Water Watch Committee provides for the long-term health of our waters. The Committee works with agencies throughout the Adirondack Park to regularly monitor our lakes and streams for road salt contamination and nutrients. When Variable Leaf Milfoil (VLM), a highly aggressive aquatic invasive plant, was discovered in 2020 in Utowana Lake, it threatened to overtake all three lakes in the Eckford Chain. The Committee acted decisively, quickly securing a matching grant from the Blue Mountain Lake Fund and raising an unprecedented $150,000. Experts were hired to use scuba gear to hand-harvest VLM from Utowana to stop its spread. Four hundred gallons of VLM were harvested in 2020. That number was down to 36 gallons in 2023, a testament to BMLA’s vigilance. The New York State Department of Environmental Conservation awarded BMLA a grant of $60,000 to support this work through 2026. Special thanks to the private boat launches at the Blue Mountain Lake Boat Livery and Curry’s Cottages for requiring all boats entering the lakes to be clean and free of invasive species.
- Members of the Beautification Committee maintain flower beds and container gardens around the hamlet. These beautiful arrangements can be seen everywhere from the tennis courts to the Post Office to the Public Beach and beyond. They also organize volunteers for a yearly roadside cleanup effort.
- The Sporting Events Committee brings the community together for two races each summer: a 5k road race, and a paddling and rowing race. The money raised supports the BMLA project fund.
- The Lake Safety Committee organizes summer volunteers to maintain and place buoys in the lakes to identify dangerous rocks and outline the channels between the lakes. The committee also provides guidance on how to obtain New York State Safe Boater Certification, now required for all motorboat drivers.
- The Highway Safety Committee works to have speed signs installed in town to remind drivers to slow down. They maintain contact with the New York Department of Transportation, and both the Hamilton County and the Town of Indian Lake highway departments, to stay informed about highway projects and provide community input.
Blue Mountain Lake is a place where neighbors help neighbors. Where the Volunteer Fire & EMS Department saves lives and puts out dangerous fires. Where families gather to celebrate, children learn to swim, s'mores are roasted under the stars, traditions are followed, and memories are made. Blue Mountain Lake is a welcoming place for all.
Despite all we’ve accomplished to protect Blue Mountain Lake, many challenges lie ahead. More invasive plants and animals threaten our waters and our forests. The use of road salt endangers our drinking water supply and the long-term health of our lakes and streams. The Volunteer Fire & EMS Department needs greater support and more volunteers. Housing and food security remain an ongoing problem. The increase of unprecedented weather events threatens businesses and livelihoods. BMLA is ready to address challenges like these and the changing needs of the community.
This work could not happen without broad community support. BMLA relies on annual dues and donations from over 175 members. Our success depends upon you - please consider volunteering for a committee or purchasing a yearly $25 membership.
The future vitality of Blue Mountain Lake – the community and the beautiful chain of lakes – needs a commitment from all of us. Our small community has been called “The Little Town that Could,” describing the hard work and perseverance of volunteers who do everything from maintaining gorgeous flower pots to battling the invasive variable leaf milfoil. Continuing to work together with a focus on the economic, cultural and physical facets of the Blue Mountain Lake community we can and will make a difference now and for generations to come.
